Manchester United's latest failure to advance to the next round in the FA Cup underlines how far they have fallen, from one of the most prestigious clubs to a chaotic house.
For a team that represented the rich culture of the highly enticing English Premier League, settling for less than being champions in a year clearly indicates that priorities changed.
It isn't a case of sustaining a winning DNA witnessed during the reign of one of footballs greatest managers, if not the best, Sir Alex Fergusson. Rather, it is a case of surviving, cleaning out the deadwood, poor transfer policies, huge wage budget, pay discrepancies, rifts between coaches and players and players themselves.
Manchester United has become a house full of drama. The City of Manchester isn't red anymore.
On February 7, United’s interim manager Ralf Rangnick noted that everyone would be happy if United finished 4th in the current season, 2021/22 EPL.
The Red Devils between 1992 and 2013 dominated the football world, winning 13 league titles to their previous haul of seven, finished second five times and third three times.
United has struggled to lift domestic titles in the past years despite making marquee signings in different transfer windows splashing over 1 billion euros in net spen.
Manchester has had seven managers in a span of nine years as they look to change the team's dwindling fortunes.
“You just need to have a look at the table. However, it doesn't help us discuss that in the middle of the season, having arrived only 10 weeks ago. This is a topic for the end of the season or a couple of weeks before the curtains close.
“If Manchester United has not won a title in the last 10 years there must be some good reasons as to why. Currently we are fourth in the league and everybody in the club including myself would be happy if we finished fourth at the end of the season,” Ralf stated.
Currently United are fourth in the league with stiff competition from Arsenal, Westham and Tottenham for the Champions League spot.
This season, United have had various controversies on and off the pitch, especially the relationship between the manager and some of the players.
Recently both Antonio Martial and Jesse Lingard took to social media to publicly oppose their coach’s statements. This was after the two were dropped from the squad.
Cristiano Ronaldo previously warned his teammates at Manchester United that he will not accept anything less than a top-three finish this season.
"I don't want to fight to be in sixth place, or seventh place, or fifth place. I'm here to try to win, to win and compete,” Ronaldo stated earlier.
However United have a chance to lift a trophy as they are in the Champions League last 16 where they will face a struggling Atletico Madrid in a two leg fixture on February 23 and March 15.